239
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. R. Singh et al. (eds.), Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sustainability in Africa, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37537-9_14
Effect of Dry Season Supplement Feeding
of Malawi Zebu Cows on Reproductive
Performance, Lactation and Weight Gain
in Calves
M. A. Bhatti, W. Chanza, L. A. Kamwanja, S. Chikomola, M. Chipandula,
A. Chikaonda, D. C. Jansen, S. Klevar, T. B. Klem, M. Stokstad,
and O. Reksen
Abstract Climate change affects food security and livelihood in Malawi, and the Food
and Agricultural Organization emphasises the intensification of milk and meat production to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Measures to increase the robustness of smallholder dairy production to better cope with the new challenges are urgently needed. A
field experiment was therefore conducted to investigate the effect of supplementing
lactating Zebu cows on performance of the cows and their offspring in Malawi.
A total of 98 cows were included and allocated to experimental and control groups
matched by parity, age of calves and geographical location of farm. The intervention
was additional feeding during the dry season with 2 kg extra maize bran per cow per
day and leguminous leaves (Gliricidia sepium). The experimental group in year one
of the study (n = 28) received in total 114 kg additional leaves, and the experimental
group (n = 21) received 240 kg extra leaves during the second year of study. The cows
were followed for 15 consecutive months (experimental period). The outcome was
reproductive performance, length of the lactation period and weight gain in calves.
The Kaplan-Meier survival estimator was used to compare calving interval and
lactation period between experiment and control groups. Additional feeding did not
stimulate reproduction efficiency in this trial. However, it promoted the length of the
lactation period. Multivariable linear models predicted increased growth in calves of
cows fed the higher quantity of leguminous leaves. Body girth was numerically lower
in male compared to female calves. This study reveals a potential for intensified and
more sustainable meat and milk production through changes in feeding regimes.
M. A. Bhatti (*) · D. C. Jansen · T. B. Klem · M. Stokstad · O. Reksen
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Oslo, Norway
e-mail: muhammad.azher.bhatti@nmbu.no
W. Chanza · L. A. Kamwanja · S. Chikomola · M. Chipandula · A. Chikaonda
Trustees of Agricultural Promotion Programme, LPMU Headquarters, Lilongwe, Malawi
S. Klevar
Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. R. Singh et al. (eds.), Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sustainability in Africa, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37537-9_14
Effect of Dry Season Supplement Feeding
of Malawi Zebu Cows on Reproductive
Performance, Lactation and Weight Gain
in Calves
M. A. Bhatti, W. Chanza, L. A. Kamwanja, S. Chikomola, M. Chipandula,
A. Chikaonda, D. C. Jansen, S. Klevar, T. B. Klem, M. Stokstad,
and O. Reksen
Abstract Climate change affects food security and livelihood in Malawi, and the Food
and Agricultural Organization emphasises the intensification of milk and meat production to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Measures to increase the robustness of smallholder dairy production to better cope with the new challenges are urgently needed. A
field experiment was therefore conducted to investigate the effect of supplementing
lactating Zebu cows on performance of the cows and their offspring in Malawi.
A total of 98 cows were included and allocated to experimental and control groups
matched by parity, age of calves and geographical location of farm. The intervention
was additional feeding during the dry season with 2 kg extra maize bran per cow per
day and leguminous leaves (Gliricidia sepium). The experimental group in year one
of the study (n = 28) received in total 114 kg additional leaves, and the experimental
group (n = 21) received 240 kg extra leaves during the second year of study. The cows
were followed for 15 consecutive months (experimental period). The outcome was
reproductive performance, length of the lactation period and weight gain in calves.
The Kaplan-Meier survival estimator was used to compare calving interval and
lactation period between experiment and control groups. Additional feeding did not
stimulate reproduction efficiency in this trial. However, it promoted the length of the
lactation period. Multivariable linear models predicted increased growth in calves of
cows fed the higher quantity of leguminous leaves. Body girth was numerically lower
in male compared to female calves. This study reveals a potential for intensified and
more sustainable meat and milk production through changes in feeding regimes.
M. A. Bhatti (*) · D. C. Jansen · T. B. Klem · M. Stokstad · O. Reksen
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Oslo, Norway
e-mail: muhammad.azher.bhatti@nmbu.no
W. Chanza · L. A. Kamwanja · S. Chikomola · M. Chipandula · A. Chikaonda
Trustees of Agricultural Promotion Programme, LPMU Headquarters, Lilongwe, Malawi
S. Klevar
Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway